Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice toward Organic Vegetables Cultivation in Northeast Thailand

Abstract

     The main purpose of this preliminary study was to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and practices toward organic vegetable farming. A survey method through a face-to-face interview from a purposively selected simple random sample of 40 households using a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from organic vegetables growers in Samsung, Khon Kaen province, Northeast Thailand. The findings showed that the knowledge levels of the respondents were low (55%) and medium (45%) with no high level respondents at all. The respondents’ answers on organic farming, especially pertaining to use of organic insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers, showed there is still some need for improvement: their attitude was not satisfactory in obtaining organic materials, there were difficulties in implementation, they considered there were less befits in it for them and they were still dependent on conventional practices, especially for pest and disease control.